Halewood’s multi-award-winning Masterchef Kemal Coşkuncay has added another incredible international achievement to his growing list of accolades after travelling to Turkey to take part in a spectacular Guinness World Record event!
The Casa Rima chef joined fellow award-winning chef Tacim Yetiş at the 8th International GastroAfyon Tourism and Taste Festival, where they represented British Northwest Chefs and the culinary community of North West England on the international stage.
The huge festival made history by bringing together an incredible 963 regional dishes from all 81 provinces of Türkiye on a spectacular 247.68-metre-long “Anatolian Table” — setting a Guinness World Record and creating an extraordinary celebration of Turkish food and culture.
Hundreds of geographically indicated and officially registered regional specialities were showcased during the event, with dishes from every corner of Türkiye coming together to demonstrate the remarkable diversity of Anatolian gastronomy. For Liverpool-based Kemal and fellow UK chef Tacim, it was another proud moment in careers that have increasingly taken them around the world.
TO BOOK A TABLE AT KEMAL’S RESTAURANT CASA RIMA CALL 0151 245 8599 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE
Representing North West England On The World Stage
Kemal Coşkuncay and Tacim Yetiş attended GastroAfyon on behalf of British Northwest Chefs and the wider gastronomic community of North West England, joining chefs, culinary professionals and international guests for the historic record-breaking event. Their involvement also highlighted the growing links between the Turkish and British culinary communities, with both chefs continuing to champion the hospitality industry and promote international collaboration from their base in the UK.
Kemal and Tacim are among the hospitality professionals behind British Northwest Chefs, an organisation launched in 2026 with the aim of bringing culinary professionals together, giving chefs a stronger voice and creating opportunities for development, collaboration and community work.
Despite only being established recently, the organisation has already begun building a network of culinary professionals and taking part in community initiatives — and its representation at a major international event such as GastroAfyon marks another exciting step forward.
TO BOOK A TABLE AT KEMAL’S RESTAURANT CASA RIMA CALL 0151 245 8599 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE
Another Huge Achievement For Masterchef Kemal
For Masterchef Kemal, the Guinness World Record event represents the latest chapter in a remarkable culinary journey. Originally from Turkey, Kemal moved to Liverpool in 2020 following a successful career that included working at award-winning restaurants in London. Since settling in Merseyside, he has become a well-known figure within the region’s hospitality industry and has accumulated an impressive collection of national and international honours.
His achievements include winning Chef Of The Year at the prestigious British Kebab Awards twice, being recognised at the International Gastronomy Star Awards and being selected as a judge at an international Culinary World Cup event. In 2025, Kemal and the Casa Rima team added another major honour when they were named Restaurateur Of The Year at the CEFTUS Excellence Awards in London.
He has also represented the hospitality industry at the House of Commons and travelled internationally to attend culinary festivals and events — building an increasingly impressive reputation both in the UK and overseas. Now, his participation alongside Tacim Yetiş in GastroAfyon’s record-breaking Anatolian Table provides yet another international achievement — while flying the flag for Liverpool and the North West of England.
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963 Dishes From Across Turkey
At the heart of GastroAfyon was an extraordinary showcase of Türkiye’s culinary heritage. The enormous 247.68-metre Anatolian Table brought together 963 dishes representing all 81 Turkish provinces, with hundreds of geographically indicated foods and registered regional specialities displayed together.
The achievement surpassed the previous record associated with Russia, which had stood since 2015, while offering visitors an opportunity to discover the extraordinary variety of ingredients, recipes and cooking traditions found throughout Türkiye. Rather than simply being about breaking a record, the event provided a platform for regional communities to preserve and promote recipes that have been passed down through generations.
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Bitlis Cuisine Takes Centre Stage
Among the regions strongly represented at GastroAfyon was Bitlis, whose distinctive cuisine attracted considerable attention from chefs, gastronomy writers, food industry representatives and visitors. Located in Eastern Anatolia, Bitlis has a rich culinary tradition built around ingredients including meat, wheat, yoghurt and locally gathered herbs.
Visitors were introduced to regional herbs such as çiriş, ışkın, tirşok, çağ otu and sirmo, alongside traditional specialities including salted pearl mullet, Keledoş, Avşor, Gari Aşı, İçli Köfte and Çorti Aşı. The showcase provided an important opportunity to introduce Bitlis’s traditional recipes, indigenous ingredients and centuries-old food culture to an international audience.
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A UNESCO City Of Gastronomy
The setting for the historic achievement was particularly fitting. Afyonkarahisar has been a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Gastronomy since 2019, establishing the city as one of Türkiye’s leading culinary destinations. The 8th International GastroAfyon Tourism and Taste Festival further strengthened that reputation, bringing chefs, food professionals and visitors together for an extensive programme celebrating Anatolian cuisine.
Prominent Turkish chefs and gastronomy professionals attending the festival included Hamza Kalkan, Battal Yıldırım, Erdem Dirbalı, Eyüp Kemal Sevinç, Ceyda Özdemirli, Emine Bedel, Özlem Mekik and Talip Bayram. International chefs from approximately 25 countries also participated, giving GastroAfyon a truly global dimension.
TO BOOK A TABLE AT KEMAL’S RESTAURANT CASA RIMA CALL 0151 245 8599 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE
From Halewood To The International Culinary Stage
Back home in Halewood, Kemal is closely associated with the award-winning Casa Rima on Baileys Lane. Since opening in 2023, the Italian and Mediterranean restaurant has established a strong reputation in South Liverpool, earning glowing reviews and attracting both local diners and high-profile guests.
The restaurant has collected major accolades of its own, including recognition at the Knowsley Business Awards, while Kemal and his colleagues have continued to receive individual honours. Casa Rima’s menu features starters, pizzas, pasta and an extensive selection of specials including steaks, lamb, duck and seabass, combining an upmarket dining experience with an accessible neighbourhood restaurant atmosphere.
Having started his career as a dishwasher in the Turkish resort town of Didim, he progressed through professional kitchens before working at acclaimed restaurants in London and eventually making Liverpool his home. His career has since taken him from the kitchens of South Liverpool to awards ceremonies, international culinary competitions, global gastronomy festivals and even the House of Commons.
TO BOOK A TABLE AT KEMAL’S RESTAURANT CASA RIMA CALL 0151 245 8599 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE
Now, alongside fellow chef Tacim Yetiş, he can add participation in a Guinness World Record-breaking celebration of Turkish cuisine to that growing list. With 963 dishes, 81 provinces and one extraordinary 247.68-metre table, GastroAfyon delivered an unforgettable celebration of Türkiye’s culinary heritage — and two of North West England’s leading Turkish chefs were there to help make history.
Casa Rima / 9A Baileys Lane, Halewood, L26 2XB / 0151 245 8599
TO BOOK A TABLE AT KEMAL’S RESTAURANT CASA RIMA CALL 0151 245 8599 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE
